How to Choose the Right Kajabi Expert (And What to Ask Before You Hire)
Aug 14, 2026
Dianne Empeynado
Vetted Kajabi Expert | Website Designer
Where sleek design meets bulletproof tech & support.
You don't need another generic "Kajabi expert." You need someone who won't leave your Kajabi website, funnel, or migration half-finished — or hand you a broken automation and disappear.
We've built Kajabi websites from scratch. We've also cleaned up the wreckage other people left behind. Here's what actually separates a real Kajabi expert from someone who just knows how to click around the platform — and what to ask before you hire one.
Key Takeaways
- A real Kajabi expert connects your website, funnels, product setup, and email automation — not just one piece.
- Watch for vague scope, no written agreement, and full payment demanded upfront.
- Vetting happens differently depending on platform — discovery call, Upwork proposal, Fiverr gig, or Contra profile.
- Pricing runs hourly, flat-rate project, or monthly retainer — get it in writing either way.
- A vetted Kajabi expert should be verifiable through a real network (like the Experts Circle), not just their own claims.
Jump to a section:
- What Makes Someone a Kajabi Expert (Not Just a Kajabi User)
- The 3 Types of Kajabi Help
- What We Hear From Clients Who've Been Burned Before
- Red Flags to Watch For Before You Pay a Deposit
- How to Vet a Kajabi Expert
- Backed by a Network, Not Just Our Own Word
- What It Costs to Hire a Kajabi Expert
- Kajabi Experts Worth Knowing
- Common Questions About Hiring a Kajabi Expert
What Makes Someone a Kajabi Expert (Not Just a Kajabi User)
Anyone can click around Kajabi. A Kajabi expert is different. They understand how every piece connects:
- Website and landing page design — built to convert, not just look polished
- Funnels (opt-in, sales, webinar, and more), mapped to your actual offer, not templated
- Product setup — courses, communities, coaching programs, podcasts, newsletters, and downloads, structured for completion, not just "it's live"
- Pricing & offer strategy — configuring payment plans, coupons, order bumps, upsells, and downsells so your checkout process works seamlessly and drives higher order values
- Launch & business strategy — a real Kajabi expert thinks past the tech: launch sequencing, offer positioning, and timeline planning so your Kajabi build supports an actual business goal, not just a checklist
- Email marketing and automations — building lead nurture sequences, sales campaigns, audience segmentation, and behavior-based tags
- SEO & discoverability — page titles, meta descriptions, site structure, and content strategy built so your Kajabi site can actually be found, not just look good once someone lands on it
- Site migrations — moving your website, products, contacts, and funnels into Kajabi cleanly, without losing data or SEO along the way
- Kajabi audits — reviewing an existing site, funnel, or account to find what's broken or underperforming
- Full guided implementation — hands-on support across your entire account, not just one piece
- AI-accelerated setup — using Kajabi’s built-in AI tools to fast-track course outlines and copy frameworks, then refining and customizing every detail so it aligns 100% with your brand voice.
- Ongoing support — a Kajabi Virtual Assistant (sometimes called an OBM) who keeps everything running after launch
A Kajabi website designer or Kajabi specialist knows not just how each piece works on its own, but how they're supposed to work together. That's the real difference. A generalist can hand you a good-looking Kajabi website. A Kajabi expert builds the business system behind it.
The 3 Types of Kajabi Help — And Which One You Actually Need
Not every "Kajabi expert" offers the same thing. Before you start reaching out, it helps to know what you're actually looking for:
1. The Solo Freelancer One person, direct communication, usually best for a defined project — a single funnel, a landing page, a quick fix. Great if your scope is clear and your budget is leaner.
2. The Technical Specialist Focused on custom code, integrations, or advanced Kajabi functionality. Great if you already have a design and just need someone to build the deeper technical pieces.
3. The Full-Service Kajabi Expert One person or team handling the entire build — website, funnels, product setup, email automation — with one point of accountability if something needs fixing later. Best if you want it all connected from day one, and you don't want to manage three different freelancers.
Knowing which one you need before you start looking saves you from hiring the wrong fit.
What We Hear From Clients Who've Been Burned Before
We'll be honest: a good number of the people who come to us aren't starting from zero. They're coming to us after someone else — a freelancer, an agency, someone who called themselves a "Kajabi expert" — left the job unfinished, went quiet, or handed over a site that never quite worked.
We're not saying this to talk badly about anyone. We're saying it because if that's you right now, you're not behind, and you're not the only one it's happened to. It's fixable — and it's exactly why the rest of this guide exists.
Red Flags to Watch For Before You Pay a Deposit
- No real portfolio — mockups or stock templates, no live sites you can actually click through
- No verifiable testimonials or reviews
- Vague scope — no clear list of what's included, which almost always turns into surprise charges later
- No written agreement — payment terms, timeline, and revisions should never be a verbal promise
- Full payment demanded upfront, with no milestones
- Slow, inconsistent communication before you've even hired them — it rarely gets better after
- No plan for your existing content — if you're migrating, they should be able to explain exactly how your contacts and content get moved safely
More than one of these? Keep looking.
How to Vet a Kajabi Expert — Discovery Calls, Upwork, Fiverr & Contra, and Other Hiring Platforms
Not every Kajabi expert works the same way. Some will hop on a discovery call with you. Others you'll vet entirely through a proposal, gig listing, or profile on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Contra. Either way, here's what separates the real experts from the noise:
- They ask about your business before they talk about Kajabi. Whether it's a call or a written proposal, strategy should come before platform talk.
- They bring up scope unprompted — in a message, proposal, or conversation, not only after you ask.
- They give specific examples, not just "I've built course sites before." On Upwork or Fiverr, that means real, clickable portfolio links — not screenshots or mockups.
- They push back on something you've said. A high star rating doesn't replace this — read a few of their actual client comments, not just the number.
- They're upfront about Kajabi's limits, even in a written proposal. Anyone who agrees to everything you ask is either inexperienced or telling you what you want to hear.
If you're vetting through Upwork, Fiverr, or Contra specifically: look past the star rating. Read the most recent reviews for detail, confirm their portfolio links lead to live sites you can actually click through, and pay attention to how specifically — and how quickly — they respond to your first message. That response is usually a preview of how they'll communicate once you've hired them.
Backed by a Network, Not Just Our Own Word
Being independently vetted by other Kajabi professionals carries real weight — it means someone besides us is standing behind the work. We're part of the Experts Circle, a peer-vetted network of Kajabi specialists built on referrals and shared standards, not paid placements.
After the official Kajabi Experts Directory closed and its expert network migrated to Contra, Kraig Mathias of Mathias Media built the Experts Circle as a peer-vetted alternative for experienced Kajabi professionals.
Kraig is a colleague we respect and one of the people who helped bring this kind of peer-vetted structure to the Kajabi space. What matters most isn't any one name in the network — it's that everyone in it has already been vetted by people who actually know what a good Kajabi build looks like, not simply listed because they paid for an ad.
What It Costs to Hire a Kajabi Expert
Pricing usually breaks down into three models:
- Hourly — small updates, quick fixes, one-off support
- Project-based / flat rate — full builds: websites, funnels, migrations, product setup, where you know the total cost upfront
- Monthly retainer — ongoing support after launch, like a Kajabi Virtual Assistant handling updates and maintenance so nothing slips
Many Kajabi experts, us included, offer a hybrid: a flat-rate project to build it right, then a retainer to keep it running.
Kajabi Experts Worth Knowing
A few people worth getting to know if you're starting your search — every name here has real work you can look into yourself.
1. Dianne Empeynado | Dianne Empeynado
Kajabi Website Design, Funnels, Migration, & Full Implementation
Most people think a Kajabi expert's job is to make your site look good. That's the easy part.
The harder part is everything underneath it — the automations that fire correctly, the checkout that doesn't quietly leak sales, the backend decisions clients never see until something breaks. I make sure that's set up properly from the start, including the pieces most business owners don't realize can affect their site until something goes wrong.
I spent 3 years on Kajabi's own Technical Support and VIP Implementation team before I built a single site for a client — so when I say something is set up right, that's the same standard Kajabi holds its own team to. It's also why Kajabi itself vets me as an Expert — backed by 1,100+ completed Kajabi projects and a 5.0 rating across Contra and the Kajabi Expert Directory.
The goal is never "it's live." It's that your site looks exactly how you envisioned it, runs the way it should, and reflects what you offer — connecting your website, funnels, product setup, and automations instead of treating them as separate projects.
I get to combine my deep Kajabi expertise with my love for design, helping others thrive where I excel — and I'm not just saying that for the kudos. The true satisfaction comes from doing what I love, and the gratitude and trust I receive from my clients is what truly fuels my passion and makes it all so rewarding. You can see that reflected in real client results on our client wins page and portfolio.
2. Sierra Janisse | Sierra Lin Design
Kajabi Done-For-You Website Design & Setup
When we collaborate on your Kajabi setup, everything you need for a complete, launch-ready online business is handled for you all in one streamlined process. We believe every coach, course creator, and online business owner deserves a website that is both beautiful and strategic. You should be proud to show off your Kajabi website design, and that website design should bring you more leads and clients.
When you partner with Sierra Lin Design, your custom Kajabi website becomes the heart of your brand. I design each layout to reflect your voice and connect with your audience while guiding them toward your key offers and lead magnets.
Every online course, membership site, and digital program is configured correctly inside your Kajabi account, from checkout pages and payment plans to product delivery and automations that make running your business easier. (No more sending login links at 11 PM to confused clients!)
You’ll also get strategic email marketing support, including automated sequences that nurture leads, onboard new clients, and promote your services. Your Kajabi should continue to work for you, even when you're unplugged.
Behind the scenes, I build clean, intentional sales funnels and landing pages designed to capture interest and convert visitors into paying clients.
And once your site is live, I provide clear post-launch training so you can confidently update content, create new offers, and keep your platform running smoothly.
What matters most to me is ensuring your feel confident and capable of updating your platform in the future as your business continues to grow and evolve! That's the power of a strategic Kajabi website: it gets to grow with your brand not just today, but for the decades to come.
3. Kraig Mathias | Mathias Media
Founder & Kajabi Developer
mathiasmedia.com · tryprostudio.com · expertscircle.com
Kraig Mathias is the founder of Mathias Media, a Kajabi-focused design and development agency specializing in custom websites, landing pages, funnels, and development for coaches, course creators, consultants, and online businesses.
He's also the creator of Pro Studio, an AI-powered website builder for Kajabi that lets users build websites and landing pages conversationally with AI and export them as real Kajabi templates.
And he's the founder of Experts Circle, a network of experienced Kajabi professionals who collaborate, share expertise, and refer work to one another.
Across all three, Kraig's focus stays the same: helping businesses get more out of Kajabi — whether through custom development, better tools, or connecting clients with the right expertise.
What Kraig Values Most
Kraig values finding the right solution for each client. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, he focuses on understanding what a business actually needs and building a solution that works well, looks great, and makes sense for the people using it.
Common Questions About Hiring a Kajabi Expert
What's the difference between a Kajabi expert and a regular web designer? A regular web designer may build a nice-looking site, but they often don't know Kajabi's specific capabilities, limitations, or best practices for funnels, automations, and product setup. A Kajabi expert understands the whole ecosystem, not just the visual layer.
How much does it cost to hire a Kajabi expert? It depends on scope. Small updates are usually hourly, full builds are flat-rate projects, and ongoing help is often a monthly retainer. Get a written quote before you commit, so you know exactly what's included.
How long does it take to build a Kajabi website or funnel? It depends on scope, but a real expert gives you a specific range upfront — not just "a few weeks." Full site builds take longer than a single funnel or landing page.
Can a Kajabi expert fix a site or funnel someone else left unfinished? Yes — this happens more than people expect. A good Kajabi expert can review what's already built, clean up or rebuild what's not working, and get your account back on track without starting from scratch.
What happens if something breaks after my site launches? This is exactly why post-launch support matters. Ask upfront whether your Kajabi expert offers a support window or ongoing maintenance, so you're not stuck if something comes up after launch.
What's the difference between a Kajabi expert and a Kajabi Virtual Assistant? A Kajabi expert typically leads the build — strategy, design, funnels, and setup. A Kajabi Virtual Assistant keeps things running day-to-day after launch: updates, small fixes, and ongoing maintenance. Many experts, us included, offer both.
Do I need a full Kajabi expert, or can I just hire someone for one small task? Not every project needs a full build. If you just need a landing page fixed or one funnel cleaned up, look for someone who offers hourly or small-scope work rather than committing to a full project you don't need yet.
I already know how to use Kajabi — why would I hire someone? Knowing the platform and knowing how to build a system that converts are two different skills. A Kajabi expert saves you the time cost of trial and error, and usually catches strategy or setup issues you wouldn't know to look for on your own.
What should I have ready before my first call with a Kajabi expert? A general sense of your offer, your timeline, and what's already built (if anything). You don't need a full brief — a real expert will ask the right questions to fill in the rest.
Can a Kajabi expert help my site show up in AI search results, not just Google? Yes — increasingly, that's part of the job. Clear site structure, strong page titles, and well-organized content help your site get picked up by both traditional search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Ready to Build With Someone You Can Trust?
You don't have to gamble on your next hire. Whether you need a full Kajabi website build, a funnel that actually converts, a safe migration, or hands-on guidance across your entire account — we're here, with real work to show for it.
The Author
Dianne Empeynado is a vetted Kajabi Expert and former member of Kajabi's own Technical Support and VIP Implementation team — she's seen the platform from the inside, not just as an outside freelancer. She's a top-rated Kajabi specialist on Contra, a Fiverr Vetted Pro, available on Upwork, and a member of the Experts Circle, a peer-vetted network of Kajabi professionals.
What began as a solo website design business has become a creative studio — built to support creators through more stages of their business, while keeping the same thoughtful, personal approach that's always mattered. It's not about getting bigger for the sake of it. It's about being better equipped to serve the creators who trust us.
Learn more at dianneempeynado.com, or start your Kajabi project here.
